Phil McCann spring gardening Q&A

Hello Phil I would like to grow some veg this year with my little GD. I have a wooden trough thing that I have used in the past although I suspect I need to empty what remains of the soil in there and start again. So...can you advise me what to put in it soil wise (it is about 60 inches by 30 inches possibly a big bigger and not that deep) Also tips on low maintenance things to grow would be great too. I want to encourage her to eat more veg and this seems a good way to start

I've planted lots of bulbs in pots last autumn.
I know the tulips will have to be discarded, but what about the scillas, iris reticulata, crocus and pushkinias? Can I leave them in their pots to flower again, or would it be better to plant them out in the garden and re-plant with fresh bulbs next autumn? Any advice welcome - thank you!

I have just potted up some dahlia corms. As I am new to growing dahlias could you give me some advice about when to plant them out and how to care for them please?

We have a red robin bush. This year the leaves have turned red but also have black spots on them and a large number of leaves have fallen off.
What will have csused this and is there a cure / solution to the problem. Previous year the bush has appeared ok

Given the peculiar winter weather we had this year, what is the apple and pear crop likely to be - better, or worse?

Hoping for better.

I have a border that is currently looking lovely, full of spring flowers and a few small evergreens but in a while it will look bare. It's small (only about 15' x 3'), the front slope of a tier and fairly shallow so drains quickly. Any suggestions for planting that will fill the gap until the bulbs arrive again? Apart from the bulbs nothing really seems to survive there for long.